Fifth anniversary of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: protection of Indigenous peoples’ rights to lands, territories and resources more urgent than ever

There is urgent need to uphold international human rights standards in response to intensive resource development activities affecting the lands of Indigenous peoples at home and abroad.
Five years ago, on 13 September 2007, the United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the minimum standard for the “survival, dignity and well-being” of Indigenous peoples worldwide. As a universal human rights instrument, the Declaration is a beacon of hope and a blueprint for justice and reconciliation.
The rights affirmed in the UN Declaration include the right of Indigenous peoples to determine for themselves when, and under what conditions, resource development will be carried out on their lands and territories.